First reverse circulation kit to use an DM 45 for in-pit grade control

The Barrick Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea has become the first mine in the world to use an Atlas Copco DM 45 blasthole rig for in-pit grade control with reverse circulation drilling.

A reverse circulation (RC) kit that enables mines to use their DM45/50 blasthole drill rigs for in-pit grade control is now being successfully operated in the field.
The first mine to take advantage of this technology is the Barrick Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea, located high in the mountains about 600 km northwest of Port Moresby.
To accommodate the RC kit, the mine’s DM45 was upgraded with a number of modifications. Craig Rintoul, who was Open Pit Manager at the time, says: “This drill rig is world class with multiple onsite engineered improvements to the original second hand drill. The upgrade means huge savings on a new rig and RC system.”
Safety, functionality, ease of maintenance and cost were all improved with the installation of the kit. Previously, the mine used its standard blasthole drills to take core samples from the drill cuttings, but this often contaminated the holes making it difficult, if not possible, to analyze the ore.

Good business sense

DML

Powerful rotary tricone and down the hole hammer drill for 149mm-250mm (5-7/8” to 9-7/8”) holes.

2016 International Customer story